This piece is inspired by a long-time friend, and former business partner. Barry was healthy and athletic through high school and college, and later an excellent graphic artist. Now he’s relegated by MS to the confines of an electric wheel chair. He loved to dance and enjoyed my band in younger years. He has never let the chair stop him. Though he doesn’t walk now, and has lost the effective use of the left side of his body (he is/was left handed) he has never stopped smiling or going to watch live music performed. He has become a superb photographer, learning to master the right side of his body. He also still loves hot rods, a passion he and I share. Barry is now 73, still going strong. This is for you my buddy.
in a most unexpected place
in the eyes of a battled warrior
cruel society deems disabled
bent and stooped
by fate – struck down
confined to his rolling metal chair
his gentle eyes still reflect a wonder
by my soul sometimes misplaced
by my self-pity displaced
his timeless spirit knows only belief
it pours forth from his being
his person full alive
his essence full aware
wholly in the now
positioned close to the modest stage
he is enraptured by the rhythm
enthralled by the magic
captured by his lens
the band plays fast
the band plays slow
the band plays loud
the band plays low
he is filled with every note
every beat
every nuance
he rocks
and rolls
and snaps snaps snaps
he experiences an ecstasy
which I watch with marvel
its purity and power
I am challenged to equal
I now realize
just how much
I do not understand
about struggle
about pride
as I behold this able man
faint envy stirs
as I witness his unbridled joy
so complete
and unpretentious
rob kistner © 2019
Barry, with beloved hot rod.
Click below to read more poems at dVerse:
OpenLinkNight #243
Hi! I’m Edgrrr, rob’s shih tzu.
often when one thing is taken others become more bountiful … you can re-establish that fervent joy 🙂
If the spirit is willing and wonder remains vital, there are no obstacles in lifeKate…!
Some people just don’t give up 🙂
Some people don’t know the concept of giving up Jane.
This is such a lovely tribute poem, Rob 🙂
Thank uou Sanaa…! 🙂
A beautiful tribute to your friend Rob, he’s a true inspiration
Thank you, and yes he is Xenia…
How blessed you are to know him, and he you. This is a wonderful story Rob.
Thank you Linda. We were two Alphas buttong heads when we first met. Then we figured out we were deducated to integrity and tenacity – and we have been close friends ever since. Even the 2,300 miles berween us now has not dimmed the friendship.
Hugs and kudos for this endearing tribute to Barry. Ironically, some of your deepest insight comes from your personal experience with your own disability. I second that while experiencing my own. I have spent the last couple of years letting go of things I used to do; ,driving is the latest. I still have poetry and photography to provide joy in my life. It is good that you and I have inexorable creativity and behemoth imaginations to buoy us up, and transport us to beautiful places.
Thank you Glenn. He lost his mobility quite a while before I did, but his chair has slways been invisible to me because his spirit obliterates it! Now that we each are coping with our individual challenges, there is an even deeper kindred spirit, snd solid respect.
I can imagine you and Barry had fun in your school years. You and Barry are blessed to have forever friends in each other. It’s an unanswerable question as to whose spirits will stay strong and whose will crumble. You two old dogs are still going strong. Barry’s a great photographer! I think I like that last one best, but they are all fabulous.
We are fightes and it is not in our spirits to retreat from life Jade. We were both competitive alphas when we first met. The competition evolved to respect, and the respect to love. I love his work. He has an incredible eye for composition, lighting, and perspective – so his still lifes are full of feeling, full of soul – poetic, even though he is not a writer. He also reads the emotions well in his human subjects, and captures it brilliantly.
I love the energy still left… and how to enjoy your life to the full. That snap, snap, snap really said so much.
Thank you BjörnI The times I have been with Barry watching a band. Or a sporting event, there are moments when all you hear is snap, snap ,snap… and he captures extraordinary images.
Nice lines: “faint envy stirs
as I witness his unbridled joy” I can see how joy can bring envy to some.
Thank you Frank! My faint envy is that he always seems to find life uplifting, even though he could, for so many good reasons, have given up. I sometimes don’t feel quite as strong as Barry attitude wise, so that’s what I mean. Lovingly envious… 🙂
It’s a wonderful thing to see the beauty in your friend’s spirit. A lovely ode to Barry 🙂
Thank you Vivian. He and I are very close!
Very inspiring to read and a wonderful tribute to your friend. I admire that his will to really enjoy life to the fullest remains unabated.
Thank you Grace. I greatly admire my friend!
I love this tribute to your friend!
Thank you ?Jenna? – is that your name…
Lovely poem and great photos 🙂
Thank you Arcadia, and Barry thanks you!
This is such a wonderful personal heartfelt tribute to your friend. His Photos are fabulous. He reminds us as Grace said in her poem that there is more to life that just our shell! Well done my friend!
Thank you Dwight! Barry has a creative fire that physical obstacles will not extinguish.
Rob, ur comment conversations are as involved as your tribute lyrics; authenticity & perseverance abounds!
Ps – love the variety of great pics! Abandon & joy! 🙂
Barry has a great eye Adan, and he knows how to see the world.
Thank you Adan…
Thank you for sharing this! I really enjoyed it, especially the lines about the band/live music experience, and these:
his gentle eyes still reflect a wonder
by my soul sometimes misplaced
by my self-pity displaced
his timeless spirit knows only belief
…
as I behold this able man
Thank you Crystal. Barry is a good man and a great friend!
this is wonderful in every element…joy is always to be envied…for it is the closest thing to a heaven here on earth…thank you much for sharing…bkm
Thank you Barbara, and you are welcome…! 🙂
What a beautiful tribute to your friend, who is a capable and skilled photographer!
He is a great guy Barry… 🙂
Beautiful and moving poem,Rob…love the photos…JIM
Thank you Jim! Barry is a fine lensman…
Sorry for the late response–I’m behind on everything right now! Rob, this is a lovely tribute to your friend. I think you are both fortunate to have each other. Barry’s photography is beautiful.
Thank you Merril. I was sulking the entire time waiting for your visit… 🙂